Internal combustion pump and prime mover



Sept. 22, 1931. 5. p` CHR|ST|E 1,824,074

INTERNAL COMBUSTION PUMP AND PRIME MOVER Filed July 2l, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 22, 1931. s. P. CHRISTIE INTERNAL COMBUSTION PUMP AND PRIME MOVER Filved July 2l, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZM, XM

Sept. 22, 1931. s, P, CHRlSTlE 1,824,074

INTERNAL COMBUSTION PUMP AND PRIME MOVER Filed July 2l, 1950 3 Shee'bS-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTg oI-FICE STANLEY PERCY CHRISTE, F LONDON, ENGLAND INTERNAL COMBUSTION PUMP AND PRIME MOVER Application led July 21, 1930, Serial No. 469,588, and in Great Britain August 1,4, 1929.

This invention is for improvements infor relating to inlet valve. operating gear for liquid piston internal combustion pumps and prime movers particularly of the type in l which the fuel charge is introduced wholly or in part during the upward or return stroke of the liquid piston. In pumps of this type the fuel may be supplied by the reciprocation of a liquid column within a chamber separate from the combustion chamber (or stand pipe) which column is synchronized with t-he stand pi e column, as described in British Patent peciication No. 241,635, or, alternatively, the fuel may be supplied under l@ pressure from an extraneous device such as a compressor or blower.

The present invention has for. an object to provide a simple and reliable valve mechanism for internal combustion liquid piston '5 pumps, and, therefore, provides in a liquid piston internal combustion pump, the combination with a fuel inlet valve of the semirotary disc type, of a device operable by the flow of the liquid, or by the flow of the exhaust gases, or by pressure variations within the combustion chamber, to elfect or to time the movement of said fuelA inlet valve. It is to be understood that a valve of the,l semirotary disc type comprises a ported disc 3G which is revolvable (less than one revolution) in face contact with a complementarily ported seating. Preferably, a non-return valve is situated between the said inlet valve and the working cylinder.

In one construction according to this invention, the inlet valve is operatively connected to a paddle or similar device which is pivotally mountedwithin the play pipe for movement by the iow of the liquid. In an alternative construction, the inlet valve may be actuated by the movement of a piston within a cylinder which is in communication with the combustion chamber, and the timing of the valve may be controlled by a detent operated by va flow actuated fdevice. Conveniently, the flow actuated device may operate to make-andbreak an 'electric circuit through the windings of an electro-magnetic device associated with the detent. yIf desired, the inlet valve may be operatively connected with an exhaust valve, so that the closing of the exhaust valve eifects the Closing of the inlet valve. v Y

Various constructions according to this invention will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a liquid piston internal combustion pump showing one method of actuating the inlet valve;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on an enlarged sca-le through the inlet valve,

Figure 4 illustrates diagrammatically a modified construction in which the inlet valve is actuated by means of a piston movable within a cylinder which is in communication with the combustion chamber;

Figure 5 shows diagrammatically a moditied construction in which the inlet valve is interlinked with the exhaust valve;

Figure 6 shows diagrammatically a further modiiied construction in which the timing of the valve opening is eiiected by an electro-magnetic device controlled by the iiow of the liquid;

Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement in which the opening of the inlet valve is timed by a vacuum device, and

Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a still further method of timing the inlet valve.

Throughout this description like reference numerals indicate like part-s.

rllhe pump illustrated in Figures l and 2 operates on the two-stroke cycle and comprises a stand pipe 10 enclosing the combustion chamber, to which air is supplied by a pipe line l1, and gas by a pipe line 12, from external compressors which are not shown. The two pipe lines `11 and 12 both communicatey with a valve chest 1,3 Whichhouses the fuel inlet valve. rEhe latter, which is lshown in detail in Figure 3, comprises a semi-rotary perforated valve disc lil, the face of which is in Contact with a stationary perforated disc secured to the valve chest 13; the valve disc 14 is rotated by meansof aV shaft 16 which passes through a stuihng box 17 at the outer end of the valve chest and is there provided with a crank 18. In order that the rotary disc shall accommodate itself to the face of the stationary disc a universal joint, which is shown diagrammatically ,at 38, is introduced 5 between the disc 14 and the shaft 16. Between the stationary disc 15 and the interior of the combustionV chamber is mounted a non-return valvecomprising a valve head. 19..slidV ably mounted upon a spindle and held in contact with the face of the stationary disc 15 by means of a` compression spring 2l. Tear on the face of the semi-rotary disc14 may be taken up by a screw 22I which is mounted in a bracket 23 bolted to thefvalve chest 13, the screw' 22 being formed with a pinpointibearingwhich isl in contact with the y end'of the shaft 16..

The exhaust valve ofthe pump comprises aivalve casing24-and a poppet valve25 which isnOrmally' held in contact with aseating 26 (formed on the casing 24) bythe pressure ex'- isting within the combustion chamber. There is alsoa light non-returnvalve 60 controlling the'foirtletto atmosphere. from ythe casing 26. Upon the charge being lexploded the liquid column isrimpelledldownthe stand pipe 1U and flows to discharge along the play vpipe 27. The momentum of 'thezliquid column thus set in mo-tion is suiiicientrnot only to create` a vacuum withinthe stand pipe, but also to dra-w ina fresh supply of liquid through inlet valves:` which 1 are shown` diagrammatically'f at28and'fat this period the7 exhaust valve 25 opens, thefnon-return valve 60, being closed', thus maintaining-the partial'rvacuum.v The return-HOW of liquid to effect the discharge of the exhaust gas'and-the compression of the charge maybe brought .about in any preferred man-ner. For example, the play pipe may deliver lwhollyl onpartiallyinto an air or gas reservoir, the pressure built up therein during the explosion stoke being employed-tovei'fect the return-fl`ew of liquid, or the play' pipe may deliver against a'pressure head, so that 15 when themomentumof discharge is exhausted af simple return flow of the liquid column under gravity takes place. Upon the return flow the Iexhaust. gas is forced out through the exhaust valve'and'at orabout thesame time the inletvalve isv opened and a fresh charge forced in under pressure. The fuel charge is prevented' `from flowing out through theexhaustvalve by a partition 29 which divides they stand -pi-pefverticallyinto two portions; Thfe inlet valve isnoW closed by the risingliquid and themomentum of the returning'liqud column is sufficient to compress thecharge after first closing the exhaust valve by impact:

2&0 In theconstructiony shown in Figure 1, the

'inletvali'fe-i islop'en'ed-as follows; A' paddle 30 ispivotally mounted 'within the play pipe 27A andfthispaddleisl linked by tie-rods 31 with; the: crank 181 v-upon Athe end ofthe valve .65 spindle 16x- On the return of the liquid column the paddle 30 is moved towards the right, as viewed in Figure 1, thus bringing the ports or apertures in the semi-rotary disc 14 and the stationary disc 15 into register, when the pressure of the fuel supply forces the non-return valve 19 olf its seat and permits the entry of the fuel to the combustion chamber. Upon the pressure (due to the momentum of the returning water) within the combustion chamber becoming the inlet-valve'.

The inlet'valve may be slightly biased towards the I open position by` an extension spring 32 which isattached to the crank 18 and toa bracket 33 on the exterior of the stand pipey 10.

In the arrangement which is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 4, the crank 18 is at-one end attached to a` piston 34 working within a cylinder 35 which is open to the combustionchamber. An extension spring 36 extends between the opposite end of the crank 18and a bracket 37 on the exterior of the standpipe and :biases the semi-rotary inlet valve, whose details are as shown in Figure 3, towards the open position. Attached to the spindle 16 of the inlet valve is a cam 39 which is engaged by a detent preventing the valve being. opened. The latter is in the form kof'a bell-.crank lever and is coupled by meansofatie-rod 31to a crank 41 mounted on 'the shaft of a paddle 30 with-in the play pipe 27. Thispaddle 30 is biased to move towards theright by an extension spring 42.

l At the end of the explosion stroke a partial vacuum is produced within the stand pipe 10. Immediately the return ofthe liquid column takes place the paddle 30 is moved towards the right, assisted by the extension spring 42. This movement releases the detent 40 from engagementv with the cani 39 and the inlet valve is moved in an zanticlockwise direction (as indicated.V by.V the arrow) to open, this movement being'lirstzdue to the extension spring 36, but'also. assisted .by the partial vacuum which'imay still exist within the stand pipe,actingon the piston34. In asimilar mannerl the: pressure ofcompression within the stand pipe forces.- up piston 34and closes the inle'tvalve,v and uponthe explosion stroke the paddle. 30 is moved towards the left and the detent A4() engaged with cam 39 to maintain the inlet valve. in the closed position during-the outward flow.

Figure 5 shows diagrammatically the interconnection of the inlet valve with the exhaust valve 25 by means of connecting rods 43 and 44, and a pivoted lever 45. It is intended that the closing of the exhaust valve 25 by the impact of the rising Column of water shall operate to close the inlet valve. Similarly, the opening of the exhaust valve upon the expansion to atmospheric of the explosion pressure within the stand pipe operates to permit the opening of the inlet valve. The atter is provided with a detent which is Voperable by means of a paddle in the play pipe as described with reference to lligure 4, or, alternatively, the detent may be operated as described below with reference to Figure 6. l

In the construction shown diagrammatically in Figure 6, the inlet valve is opened by means of a spring 36 and closed by means of a piston `The detent 40, however, isunder the control .of an electro-magnet 46 as follows.l 2T carries a contact arm 47 which on movement of the paddle to the right makes contact with a spring arm 48, and thus establishes a circuit from a battery 49 through the windings 50 of the electro-magnet 46. The latter attracts an armature 51 carried upon a lever 52 and moves the detent 40 out of engagement with the cam 39. On the explosion stroke the paddle 30 mores towards the left, thus breaking the circuit through the magnet windings and permitting the detent 40 tn move into engagement with the cam 39 either by its ownweight or by means of a spring, not shown.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 7 the shaft of the inlet valve spindle 16 carries a cam -disc 39 which in the closed position of the inlet valve is engaged by a detent 40 formed on one end of a lever 52 which is constrained towards the engaging position of the detent by means of a spring .70. rlhat end ofthe lever 52 remote fiom the detent is also connected to a plunger 71 movable in a chamber 72 which is in open communication with the stand pipe. The inlet valve spindle 16 also carries a crank arm 13 connected to a piston 34 working in a cylinder 35 which. opens into the combustion chamber. 5in extension of the crank arm 18 has attached to it one end of a spring 36, Vandthe other end of the spring is connected to a fixed bracket 37. lith this arrangement the detent 40 is released by the downward pull of the plunger 71 on diminishing pressure within the combustion chamber, i. e. at or about the end of the outward stroke of the liquid piston. When the detent 40 is released the inlet valve is swung into the open position by the spring 36. Then the liquid column rises in the combustion chamber the inlet valve is reset by the action of the piston 34, and the spring The paddle 30 within the play pipe.

again brings the detent 40 int-o engagement.

In the arrangement shown in Figurt S the resetting of the inlet valve is asl before und-er the control of a lever 18, a piston and a spring 36. In the closed position of the valve the latter is heldby a cam disc 39 engaged by a detent 40, and the release of thc detent is controlled by an electro-magnetic device which in turn is operated through the medium of the exhaust gases expelled through the exhaust valve. In the exhaust valve passage a vane 70, 7 3 is mounted in such manner that under the influence of the outflowing it will be swung into a position in which it closes a circuit 74 which is the energizing circuit for a magnet coil 50. Vihen this coil is energized an armature 51 carried on a lever 52 on the opposite end Aof which the detent 40 is formed) is attracted and the det-ent 40 is released.

I claim f 1. In aninternal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily port-ed valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, means to partially rotate said valve disc to bring the ports into and out 'of register, and means operable by the cyclic flow of the working fluid to control said partial rotation of the valve disc.

2. In an internal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a Valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, apivoted paddle movable by the ebb and flow of the liquid pis,-` ton, and linkage inter-connecting said paddle with the valve disc.

3. In an internal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet including a play pipe, the combination of a valve assoeiated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face Contact therewith, a paddle pivotally mounted within the play-pipe, and linkage interconnecting said paddle with the valve disc.

4. In an internal combustion liquid piston pump having a` combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a con'iplementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face Contact therewith, means to partially rotate said disc to bring the ports into and out of register, and positive means for timing said partial rota-tion.

ln an internal combustion liquid piston pump'V having a. combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, means to partially rotate said disc to bring the ports into and out of register, a catch associated with the disc, a detent for the catch, and means to move said detent into and out of engagement with the catch.

6.`Iii an intei'nal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided -with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc, means to rotate said disc in face contact with the valve seating lless than one revolution at a time to bring the ports into and out of register, a catch associated with the disc, a` detent for the catch, and means operable by the flow and recoil of the liquid column for moving the :detentinto .and out of engagement with the catch.

"7. Inan internal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a. ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc, in face cont-act therewith, means to rotate said disc less than one revolution at a time to bring the ports intoy and out of register, a catch associated -with the disc, a detent for the catch f and means which are operable by the flow and recoil of the liquid column for moving the detent into and out of engagement with the catch and which comprises a paddle pivoted within the pump for oscillation by the liquid column and linkage interconnecting said paddle with the detent.

8. In an internal combustion liquid piston combustion chamber providoutlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the com- V bination of a valve associated with said fuel Vinletcoinprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatablev in face contact therewith a c\ linder o aen to -the combustion chamber of the pump, a piston movable within the said cylinder and crank and connecting rod mechanisin'for converting the linear movement of the piston into Epartial rotation of the valve disc, and means loperable by the flow and recoil of the liquid column for timing said partial rotation.

9. vIn an internal combustion liquid piston Apump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and oulet the coinbination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet compr'sing a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, a` cylinder open to the combustion chamber of the pump, a piston Vmovable'within the said cylinder and crank,

and connecting rod mechanism for converting the linear movement of the piston into partial rotation of the valve disc, and means operai le by the flow and recoil of the liquid column for timing said partial rot-ation, comprising a paddle mounted for oscillation by said flow and recoil, a catch associated with the valve disc, a detent engageable in the .itch and-linkage interconnecting the paddle with the detent.

l0. In an internal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet cor risinga ported valve seating and a co-inplementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, a cylinder open to the combustion chamber of the pump, a piston Ymovable within the'said cylinder, crank and connecting rod mechanism for converting the linear movement of the piston into partial rotation of the valve disc, and means operable by the flow and recoil of the liquid column for timingV said partial rotation, comprising a paddle mounted for oscillation by said flow and recoil, a catch associated with t-he valve disc, a detentengageable in the catch and linkage interconnecting the paddle with the detent, an electrical circuit including an electro-magnet and switch operable by the movement of the paddle aforesaid,

.and an armature on the detent for attraction by the electro-magnet.

ll. In an internal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associateo with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, a cylinder open to 'he combustion chamber of the pump, a piston movable within the said cylinder, crank and connecting rod mechanism for converting the linear movement of the piston into partial rotation of the valve disc and means operable bythe flow and recoil of tlie liquid column for timing said partial rotation, comprising a paddle mounted for oscillation by said flow and recoil, a catch associated with the valve disc, a det-ent engageable in the catch, an electrical circuit including an electro-magnet, an armature on the detent for attraction by the electro-magnet, a stationary contact in said circuit and movable contact associated with the paddle and movable thereby to complete the circuit.

12. In an internal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, means to partially rotate said valve disc to bring the ports into and out of register and means operable by the ow of the exhaust gas for timing the said partial rotation.

13. In an internal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, a cylinder open to 'the combustion chamber of the pump, a piston movable within the said cylinder, crank and connecting rod mechanism for converting the linear movement of the piston into partial rotation of the valve disc and means operable by the flow and recoil of the liquid column for timing said partial rotation, comprising a catch associated with the valve disc, a detent engageable in the catch, a pivoted paddle exposed to the fow of the exhaust gas and and an electro-magnetic relay interconnecting the paddle and the detent.

141. In an internal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provi-ded with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising` a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, a catch associated with the valve disc, a detent engageable in the catch and holding the valve shut, a spring' arranged to bias the valve disc towards the open position, means operable by the cyclic flow of the working iiuid to release the detent, and means for rotating the valve disc back against the spring into the closed position.

15. In an internal combustion liquid piston c pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in face contact therewith, means to partially rotate said valve disc to bring the ports int-o and out of register, and means influenced by the cyclic flow of the working fluid to control said partial rotation of the valve disc.

18. In an internal combustion liquid piston pump having a combustion chamber provided with a fuel inlet, a valve control fuel outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet the combination of a valve associated with said fuel inlet comprising a ported valve seating and a complementarily ported valve disc rotatable in fa ce contact therewith, and means operable by cyclic changes in the working fluid to rotate the valve disc, less than one revolution at a time to bring the parts into and out of register.

In testimony whereof I ahix my signature.

STANLEY PERCY CHRISTIE. 

